ecliptic

views updated May 23 2018

e·clip·tic / iˈkliptik/ • n. Astron. a great circle on the celestial sphere representing the sun's apparent path during the year, so called because lunar and solar eclipses can occur only when the moon crosses it.• adj. of an eclipse or the ecliptic.

ecliptic

views updated May 08 2018

ecliptic The plane of the orbit of the Earth around the Sun. It forms an angle of 23°27′ with the Earth's equator. The orbits of the planets all lie within 3.4° of this plane, except for those of Pluto (17.2°) and Mercury (7°).

ecliptic

views updated May 23 2018

ecliptic pert. to an eclipse XIV; sb. great circle of the celestial sphere, the apparent orbit of the sun, so called because eclipses happen only when the moon is on or very near this line XIV. — L. eclīpticus — Gr. ekleiptikós (also sb.), f. ekleípein; see prec. and -IC.

ecliptic

views updated Jun 11 2018

ecliptic The plane of the orbit of the Earth around the Sun. It forms an angle of 23°27′ with the Earth's equator. The orbits of the planets all lie within 3.4° of this plane, except for those of Pluto (17.2°) and Mercury (7°).